Pokémon Detective Case Files.

Although it still seems unbelievable, Azur Lane has begun to accept the idea that "strange things happen when Hugo comes into contact with Pokémon".

"While it can't compare to Pokémon that can use moves, this cane is enough to drive away wild Pokémon. In addition, if I need to pass through areas with many wild Pokémon, I will spray insect repellent beforehand."

Azure blushed: "Life without elves is really tough... But you can take me with you, didn't you already approve of me this morning?"

“Because you’ve become a member of the detective agency, you have another task,” Hugo said casually.

Seeing the detective's serious expression, the girl felt a little scared: "Is...is it going to be related to autopsies again?"

"Teaching that aspect isn't urgent for now. Listen carefully, your task is—"

Azure looked like she was listening attentively, then heard a strange order from the head of the agency: "Come to the Yew Research Institute alone around 10 a.m. tomorrow and tell me what you have seen and heard along the way."

.

Hugo, who had just left home, met up with Touko, who was also preparing to travel, and the two walked together toward the station.

"Is it really okay for me to stay at your house tonight?" the somewhat uneasy detective asked Touko, whose hometown was the very place they were headed to, Deer Town.

“No problem at all. I’ve already called my mom, and she was thrilled to hear that my detective friend is visiting,” Touko said with a hearty laugh.

Recalling Douzi's mother, Hugo pictured a shrewd and capable socialite. This trip to Deer Town would be a good opportunity to settle some work-related matters...

Hugo suddenly began to inquire about Douzi's hometown—

"To be honest, I've always found it strange. Both Luzi Town and Feiyun City are coastal cities, so why are their development situations so different? Feiyun City has a massive amount of goods being loaded and unloaded at its port every day, and thanks to its shipping industry, it has become the most developed city in the Union; while Luzi Town, which is also located on the south side facing the sea, seems to be neglected and is still a quiet little village."

"Haha, of course you wouldn't know if you're not a local from Luzi Town."

When the topic turned to her hometown, Douzi spoke freely, immediately beginning her explanation—

"South of Deer Town lies the infamous Route 17, a waterway known for its turbulent currents and complexities, a veritable underwater maze. It's impossible to navigate by ship, and even experienced water-type trainers would struggle to make it. Therefore, there isn't a single proper waterway in Deer Town."

"So, the only public transportation option to get to your hometown is the train?"

"Yes, and the only way is to take the train to the nearby Karakuri Town, and then walk to our place. Alternatively, trainers who can use 'Fly' can fly directly to the town, but there aren't many rare Pokémon near Deer Town, so even though Professor Juniper's lab is there, not many trainers would specifically fly over."

"It's like a secluded little village," Hugo exclaimed.

Douzi shrugged: "Who says otherwise? My hometown is known as a 'kind-hearted country town where the tide foretells something,' it's practically the stage where the protagonist of a role-playing game makes his debut."

Hugo echoed this sentiment: "Who can argue with that?"

.

As the two chatted, the magnificent Feiyun City train station came into view. Hugo went to the ticket office and showed the ticket seller a black ticket with gold trim.

Upon seeing this, the station staff immediately invited the two to a special waiting room, arranged for them to sit in the first-class carriage of the next direct train, and even had a waiter push a cart to bring them drinks.

"I've decided, I'll take Hugo with me every time I go on a long trip from now on." Douzi leaned back on the sofa cushions in the train waiting room, sipping his chilled juice and squinting contentedly.

"I don't have time to run around the entire Union with you. We just happen to be going the same way today. Besides, this black card has a limited number of uses per month. It can't support your extravagant desire to take advantage of the railway company and travel for free."

"Damn it, I was seen through!" Douzi angrily punched his fist.

Hugo played with the black train ticket, feeling its tough, frosted texture, and couldn't help but recall the time last June when he was "alone" tracking down the subway bombing.

He warned the railway company several times but received no response. In desperation, he had to "borrow" the Flower Rock Monster and Sea Hare Beast that were in the backyard of Bamboo Orchid to fight crime. Although the operation to capture the bomber was fraught with setbacks due to Hugo's "bad luck" and the negative effects of causality, the case was eventually solved smoothly.

After the incident, Hugo subtly hinted to the two train conductors who arrived late, conveying in a few words that "the mysterious trainer who defeated the criminal was the savior he, Detective Hugo, had invited."

Since their previous warning letter had indeed been delivered to the railway company, the company, which had unknowingly avoided a huge problem, was naturally extremely grateful to this uninvited detective.

The huge sum of money the railway company gave Hugo completely resolved the detective's financial crisis. At the time, he had just moved into the Feather Residence and was ambitiously preparing to open his detective agency, spending money like water.

In addition, the brothers Bei Shang and Nan Xia gave Hugo the black train ticket in their private capacity. This ticket allows Hugo to use the United Railways' public transportation system for free for life, and he can bring one companion on each trip. However, there is a monthly limit on the number of trips. After reaching the limit, Hugo can still travel at a 50% discount. Moreover, during this period, the ticket holder will enjoy the luxury of first class.

To be honest, this train ticket's practical value was no less than the huge reward it had previously received, not to mention its collectible value among train enthusiasts. The train conductor was genuinely grateful for the detective's help.

"Hugo, the train has arrived!"

The detective heard the cheers of the sharp-eyed Douzi nearby, and the melodious sound of a car horn drifted from afar. He stopped his fleeting thoughts; it was time to get on the bus.

Chapter 032 The Gambler King on the Train

"Why are we having Pokémon battles in a luxury train carriage?!"

On the speeding train, Hugo, the detective who usually appeared very intelligent, now had a look of utter despair on his face.

The staff member on the train, however, seemed to take it for granted: "Since this line is the longest railway line in the Unova region, the first-class carriages leading to Karakusa Town have been designated as battle carriages specifically for Grandmaster Trainers since the railway opened. Trainers in the carriages can be matched with fellow passengers according to the match schedule, and then engage in exciting fast doubles battles in the arena in the center of the carriage."

Seeing Hugo's devastated expression, the staff member continued to reassure him, "Dear passenger, you don't need to worry about safety. Although the competition area in the carriage is a bit narrow, it uses the most robust fully enclosed structure. There is also a complete medical team on board, which can treat Pokémon injuries at any time."

"So, is it possible to avoid fighting once we enter this carriage?" Hugo asked cautiously.

"Sir, I have worked on this train for five years, and to my knowledge, there has never been a precedent of anyone fleeing to avoid the battle. Such an action would likely be opposed by all the passengers."

Hugo instinctively sensed that the other person was seriously exaggerating and lying, but at the same time, he also felt the other person's determination not to give up.

Damn it, do they really want to embarrass him, the holder of the black ticket, in public? If Hugo hadn't already used his card to ride in the first-class carriage for free a few times before, he would have suspected that this was the railway company making things difficult for him.

However, more difficult to deal with than the staff and the railway company is this guy next to me—

"Hugo, Hugo, there's a prize in the first-class car competition! As your travel companion, I can participate as a doubles partner, right? Hugo, I remember you brought the three little turtles with you, now is the perfect time for them to show off their skills!"

Douzi, who was standing to the side, had her eyes shining. This landlady, who had no resistance to any competition with prize money, was tightly tugging at Hugo's sleeve.

"Wait a minute, Douzi, you should know what will happen if I participate in Pokémon battles, right?"

“It’s perfectly fine.” Douzi said confidently, “In a match of this caliber, even if Hugo is eliminated in the first round, I can still take on two opponents and defeat them.”

With his companion saying such things, what else was there to say? Hugo resignedly let the bulldozer drag him into the race car.

He didn't think that Douzi's so-called tactics were feasible at all, because the last time someone had put forward such a battle plan to Hugo with such enthusiasm was when he was a teenager and the current Sinnoh champion.

.

"Yu Yu Yugo, why do our opponents in this round look so familiar? Am I hallucinating because I'm too excited?"

Ten minutes before the start of the match, the contestant who received the match schedule was struck dumb, standing there with no fighting spirit left.

"That's not the case, Miss Touko. You think your opponent looks familiar because the person in the photo on the match list looks exactly like Mr. Yueju, one of the current Four Heavenly Kings of the United League. Not only do they look alike, but even their names on the match information sheet, which cannot possibly be faked, are written in big letters, Yueju."

Seeing that Douzi had encountered such an absurdly low-probability event, although they still had to engage in Pokémon battles, Hugo inexplicably began to feel cheerful, even thoughtfully comforting his partner in the double battle—

"It seems our opponent is indeed Mr. Yueju himself. Douzi, now you can have a chance to spar with an opponent of the Heavenly King level before stepping onto the league stage! Congratulations, congratulations!"

"But why would Mr. Lantachibana, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, be eyeing the prize money for a competition in a first-class carriage? Doesn't he think that's a bit unfair?"

Through the transparent battle space, in the distance, a man in a black tuxedo with an exaggerated hairstyle sat in a seat; it was none other than the King of Yueju.

"As a star trainer in the Unova League's high-level ball division, the strongest Greatsword user of the year, and a prize hunter who frantically participates in tournaments throughout the Unova region, Miss Touko, you have no right to criticize others," Hugo couldn't help but retort.

"But what should I do now? I would lose even in a one-on-one fight against King Yueju, let alone two of them."

Faced with this doubles match where even a loss wouldn't be shameful, Hugo, who was originally seen as a liability, became surprisingly relaxed, enthusiastically acting as the team's strategist, completely forgetting that he himself was also going to play—

"Douzi, you should think positively now. This is the perfect opportunity to defeat the United King. If you can defeat the King in a two-on-one fight, you can leave an immortal legend in this carriage."

Seeing that his partner did not answer, Hugo continued to advise, "As an Unova Elite Four member, everyone knows the Pokémon that Cinnamon uses. Think about it carefully, what Pokémon would this Elite Four trainer, who is famous for using violent Dark-type Pokémon, use in the cramped space of a train carriage?"

Douzi was naturally very familiar with the common knowledge of these league competitions. She counted on her fingers: "The Pokémon that Yueju has used include: Krookodile, Leopard, Drapion, Crowbarro, Sharpedo, Tyranitar, Houndoom, Absol... and..."

"There's also the smallest one, best suited for street battles, and the Pokémon that Cranberry uses most often in this season's Elite Four battles..." Hugo casually suggested.

"The bandana thug! He'll definitely use this Pokémon!" Inspired, the girl immediately realized what the detective meant.

Sometimes, the environment helps people make choices without them even realizing it. When people think they have their own destiny in their hands, the seemingly abundant options often only lead to a predetermined ending.

"Let's take a look at this star's doubles partner. This young lady has a neat short haircut and is wearing a school uniform. I remember the wing-shaped school badge on her chest, which represents her alma mater - Fukiyo High School."

"Fukiyo City, the city famous for its airport and Flying-type gym!" Touko's eyes brightened again.

"Bug and Fighting types can suppress the Dark type that this Elite Four member is so proud of. It seems that when this Dark Elite Four member was looking for teammates, he subconsciously chose teammates who could protect Dark-type Pokémon, such as a high school girl who can use Flying-type Pokémon. This is probably a habit that comes from the caution of being an Elite Four member."

Hugo irresponsibly displays his reasoning ability, which, although seemingly full of loopholes, actually contains some indirect evidence that is not readily available to outsiders in each step of his reasoning.

For example, the reason why it is inferred that Bilberry would use the bandana thug is not only because the bandana thug is short and suitable for fighting in the car, but also because Bilberry, who is sitting opposite him, would occasionally scratch his nose with his thumb - which is exactly the cool pose that the bandana thug likes to use.

Furthermore, the detective recognized the high school girl's school badge because Hugo had recently discovered that this was the school where the mother in the Warrior Eagle crash incident had officially started engaging in aerial combat.

While in the morgue, after hearing Azure's report, Hugo immediately went online to verify the mother's confession. Incidentally, Fukiyo High School continues to vigorously promote aerial combat in Unova, recruiting many talented aerial trainers into the Pokémon League every year.

At this moment, the high school girl was sitting next to the King of Lingchu, looking somewhat uneasy.

Her posture was a bit strange, and the reason was obvious—her backpack was bulging with something, which Hugo guessed was a folded glider suit. It seemed that the Pokémon this high school girl would use was most likely a type that could participate in aerial battles.

Skipping over lengthy reasoning and proof, Hugo went straight to the conclusion: "Now we can make a flawed assumption—in this fast-paced two-on-two match with no rotation allowed, the Pokémon that the two opponents will field are—"

Douzi, who was only interested in the prize money and saw the glimmer of winning a huge sum of money, took over the conversation excitedly—

"A Pokémon with the ability to fly, and a Champion-level bandana-wearing thug. We can use this to design our tactics and starting Pokémon! We'll definitely catch them off guard!"

Chapter 033 The Surefire Way to Win at Rock-Paper-Scissors

As the evening sun set, the train sped along, but the battle zone in the first-class carriage remained completely undisturbed. The detective standing in the dueling arena felt only the impermanence of life.

Beside Hugo was Douzi, who was clutching a Poké Ball. The two had prepared their battle strategy before going on stage, but now, facing an opponent that was almost impossible to defeat, she began to tremble slightly.

Those who know her well know that this trembling does not stem from fear, but from excitement, an outward manifestation of her soaring fighting spirit.

Across the narrow playing field, directly opposite Douzi was a girl who looked like a high school student carrying a backpack.

The high school girl's face had an expression that screamed "I'm going to win," just like the boy before he entered the carriage.

The girl's confidence stems from her partner—the current Unova Elite Four member, the master of the Evil attribute, Cranberry.

The king, who had intruded into the low-level match, stood in a corner of the arena, smoothed his signature exaggerated dark blue hair, and grinned like a viper baring its fangs.

He spoke directly to Douzi, and unlike his aggressive appearance, Yueju's voice was slow and deliberate, possessing an elegant, aristocratic quality.

"Isn't this Miss Douzi, one of this year's league challenger candidates? To meet her under such a coincidence is like winning the lottery."

Toko's mood grew even heavier. He had thought this battle would turn into a surprise attack, but he hadn't expected that his opponent was also prepared.

However, the girl suddenly caught a glimpse of Hugo shaking his head slightly, and the detective making an OK sign with his hand behind his back.

Douzi suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of confidence, so he raised his head and responded to the King's greeting: "I am truly fortunate to be able to experience the strength of King Yueju in advance."

Seeing the challenger's composed attitude, the King smiled and said, "Very good, it seems like we'll have a great match today."

The high school girl next to Lan Tachibana wanted to chime in, but just then the stadium's loudspeaker blared—

"The match will begin ten seconds after the broadcast ends. Each player may use only one Pokémon at a time; switching Pokémon and using battle items are prohibited. A player who loses if both of their Pokémon are unable to battle will be eliminated. Next—"

A countdown began playing on a screen on one side of the wall, and the atmosphere in the arena gradually became tense. Of the four, only Hugo, lost in thought, turned his head to look at the numbers flashing on the wall.

"Game start!"

The countdown reached zero, and a deafening announcement signaled the start of the competition. The players threw their chosen Poké Balls into the arena.

Choosing a Pokémon to start is like rock-paper-scissors. In a typical doubles battle, if one side can choose a suitable and targeted opening strategy, they will gain a significant advantage in the early stages of the match. However, in this battle within the train carriage, each side can only choose one Pokémon to battle, making the opening choice even more crucial to victory or defeat.

Rock-paper-scissors is essentially a psychological game. Some people might think it's just a game of luck with no pattern, but Victor Hugo, as a detective, will tell you that's not the case at all.

Everyone has their preferred way of playing rock-paper-scissors. When someone starts playing rock-paper-scissors without any preparation, habit will guide them to choose rock and paper in a certain fixed order.

Conversely, when he is mentally prepared to throw a punch, his move will indeed briefly appear unpredictable; however, as the number of times he plays rock-paper-scissors increases, this unpredictable state will converge into habit at an extremely fast speed. Before the player realizes this again and changes his approach, he will become a prisoner of unconsciousness.

That's right, there's a sure-win strategy for rock-paper-scissors!

With enough information, whether you choose rock-paper-scissors or scissors actually depends on what kind of person you are.

Similarly, the outcome of this rock-paper-scissors game—which Pokémon the opponent would use—was already predicted in Hugo's mind.

"Heave-ho!" Douzi beside him let out a short shout. It was the sound people often made when they got a good hand in gambling. They couldn't help but shout out because of their joy, but they had to suppress their emotions because the battle was still going on. This small sound was the gambler's wild laughter when his trick succeeded.

The three Pokémon have entered the arena: the one who stands like a war god with his arms crossed, the one who is a high school girl who floats in the air for a while before landing gracefully, and the one who is a bandana thug with a bright red crown under the command of the girl.

—The beginning was exactly as the detective predicted.

So what about the detective's own Pokémon?

Rewind to the moment the countdown ended.

Just as everyone was throwing their Poké Balls into the arena, Detective Hugo, as if he were participating in a shot put competition at a sports meet, swung his Poké Ball high into the air and then smashed it straight down on the face of the Unova Elite Four with astonishing force.

Since it was a battle carriage much smaller than the actual battle arena, the opposing trainer's standing position was within Hugo's range when he threw Poké Balls.

At this moment, Lantana had already released Bandana. When she looked up, she saw a rapidly spinning Poké Ball getting closer and closer to her. So she subconsciously put her hand in front of her eyes.

A Poké Ball isn't a real shot put; as long as it doesn't hit your face, it'll only hurt for a while.

However, the Poké Ball opened automatically as soon as it reached Bulbasaur, and a lively little Chimchar jumped out and landed on the field in front of Bulbasaur.